Caster.



r. E. THOMPSON.

OASTER.

APPLICATION FILED novvn, 1911.

1,016,654, 1 Patented Feb.6, 1912.

COLUMBIA PMNOGlAPl-I $0., WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED sT rns PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. THOMPSON, OF COREY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO COREY CAS'I'ORCOM- PANY, 0F COREY, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR-PORUATLION OF PENNSYLVANIA".

Application filed November 11, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 659,675.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Corry, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to improvements in casters and particularly toimprovements in casters provided with pintle-retaining means and adaptedfor use in metallic bedsteads the legs of which are tubular; and anobject of this invention is to simplify and strengthen the constructionof the pintleretaining means of such casters to reduce the cost ofmanufacture of the same and to increase the durability and etliciencythereof.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of this invention and thebest mode now known to me of applying that principle, Figure 1 shows mynew caster in elevation; Fig. 2 is a section on the line AA of Fig. 1;Fig. 3 is a plan view of my new caster; Fig. 4: is a section on the lineBB of Fig. 3, the caster-wheel being shown omitted; Fig. 5 is a viewlooking in the direction of the arrow X in Fig. 1, the caster-wheel being shown omitted; Figs. 6 and 7 are details showing thepintle-retaining centeringplates; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. i andshows a modification in which the pintle is detachably retained; andFig. 9 is a section on the line G-C of Fig. 8.

The caster proper (that is, apart from the pintle-retaining means) is ofthe kind com monly found in the type of casters known as point bearingcasters and consists of the usual caster-wheel a, jaws b, yoke 0 andpintle cl, the upper end of the latter being formed with a groove cl andapointed upper end or pivot-point d. The base-plate e is formed with theusual central hole 6 through which passes the pintle d. Upon thebase-plate 6 there are mounted two pintle-retaining centering-plates f,g each of which is formed with a pair of lugs h at its lower end andwith a centrally-disposed pintle receiving channel 1'. In the top of theplate 9 there is formed a notch or recess j and from the top of thecentral channel 2' in the plate f there extends a recess or notch 75.The plates 7', g are interlocked with each other by forcing the top ofthe plate 9 into the notch 70, the topof the plate f being thereby madeto enter the notch j in the top of the plate 9. Thus, the plates f, gare securely and firmly interlocked and a strong structure produced.These plates f, g are arranged diametrically of the baseplate e and arefastened therein by passing the lugs it through slots in the base-platee and then upsetting the lugs. In the top of the channels 2' there ismounted a circular or disk-like bearing-plate m against which bears theupper pointed or pivot end 0 of the pintle (Z. The disk obtained bypunching the central hole 6 in the base-plate 6 may be used as thebearing-plate m. The pintle (Z is retained in the channel i by forcingout the metal of the walls of the latter in one of the centering plates,in the form of lugs a into the groove (Z in the upper end of the pintle.The pintle-retaining centering-plate f is formed at its top with an upwardly-eXtending lug 0 which passes through a central hole formed in thetop or base of the inverted U-shaped leaf-spring p and which is upset tofasten the latter to the plate f. The legs 39 of the spring p areadapted to press outwardly in the usual manner against the inner face orwall of the tubular leg 9 of the bedstead and thereby to retain thecaster detachably within" the same.

WVhen it is desired to hold the pintle detachably in thecentering-plates, one of the latter, as g, is formed with a recess 1"which extends from the central channel 2' and in which is sprung acurved, leaf-spring s. The latter bears yieldinglyagainst the wall orbottom of the groove cl and thereby retains the pintle detachably withinthe centering-plate.

It is to be observed thatthe pintle (Z is firmly supported by beinggiven a bearing throughout practically the whole length of the edgeportions along the channels 2'.

To strengthen the base-plate c, it is formed with radial ribs 6; butthis stiltening or strengthening of the base-plate is regarded by me asa well-known mechanical expedient.

To make easy and smooth the entrance of the retaining-plate into thetubular leg 9,

' the lateral edges of the centering-plates are slightly tapered, as isbest shown in Fig. 4:.

I claim:

1. A pintle-retainer for casters having a base-plate; a centering-platethe bottom edge of which extends centrally across said base-plate andhas a bearing upon the pintle; and spring-arms carried by saidcentering-plate and arrangedto engage the inner wall of the tubular. legof the bed.

-2. A pintle-retainer for casters comprising a base-plate; a pair ofcentering-plates the bottom edges of which extend centrally across saidbase-plate and one of which has a; bearing upon the pintle; andspring-arms carried by one of said centering-plates and arranged toengage the inner wall'of the tubular leg of the bed.

3. A pintle-retainer for casters having a base-plate formed with a holefor the passage of the pintle'; a centering-plate the bottom edge ofwhich extends centrally across said base-plate and is formed with arecess which lies above the hole in the baseplate; and spring-armscarried by said centering-plate and arranged to engage the inner wall ofthe tubular leg of the bed; said centering-plate having a bearing uponthe pintle.

4. A pintle-retainer for casters comprising a base-plate formed with ahole for the passage of the pintle; a pair of centeringplates the bottomedges of which extend hand at Corry,

centrally across said base-plate and are' gage the tubular wall. of theleg of the bed.

A pintle-retainer for casters comprising a base-plate; a pairofcentering-plates the bottom edges of which extend centrally across saidbase-plate and are interlocked and one of which has a bearing upon thepintle; and spring-arms carried by one of said centering-plates andarranged to engage the inner wall of the tubular leg of the bed and towork in recesses of which said centering-plates form walls.

, 6. A pintle-retainer for casters having a base-plate; acentering-plate the bottom edge of which extends centrally across saidbase-plate and which has a bearing upon the pintle and is formed withmeans for re taining the latter; and spring-arms carried by saidcentering-plates and arranged to engage the inner wall of the tubularleg of the bed.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my Pennsylvania, this sixth day 01November, 1911, in the presence of the two undersigned witnesses.

FRANK E. THOMPSON. lVitnesses R0131. J. OSBORNE, J. R. CALKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

